Okay lads, let’s be honest. We all love watching cricket, maybe having a cheeky flutter on the game. You know, predicting the winner, top batsman – the usual stuff. It feels like you can use a bit of knowledge, right? But then… then you start scrolling through the markets, maybe on something like the Betway app, and you see odds that make your eyes pop. 50/1 for that? 100/1 for this? Suddenly, your sensible R50 bet seems boring.
This, my friends, is where we enter the realm of the truly bonkers cricket bets. The ones that promise a fat payout from pocket change but are, let’s face it, about as likely as seeing a bowler complain about too much reverse swing. These are the punts that rely less on analysis and more on blind luck and a prayer. So, which bets are basically cricket’s equivalent of buying a lottery ticket? Let’s dive in.
Wagers that demand psychic powers
Some bets aren’t just difficult, they require you to predict the future with pinpoint accuracy. Good luck with that.
- Correct Score / Score Bands: Seriously? Predicting the exact final score in a 50-over match, let alone a Test? Forget about it. There are literally hundreds, maybe thousands of possible outcomes. Even betting on score bands (like predicting the Proteas will score between 275-299) is ridiculously tough. One quick wicket collapse or one unexpected boundary blitz, and your bet’s toast. The odds are huge because your chances are tiny.
- Method of Next Dismissal: Will the next wicket be Caught? Bowled? LBW? Run Out? Stumped? Maybe even Hit Wicket if someone has a brain fade? While ‘Caught’ is the most common, predicting the specific mode for the very next wicket is a wild guess. Is it a spinner turning it square? A quick bowler finding the edge? A suicidal run-out attempt? Flip a coin, mate. It’s probably got a better strike rate.
- Betting on a Tie: Tied matches are cricket’s unicorns. They happen, sure, creating legendary moments we talk about for years (remember the 2019 World Cup final madness?). But they are incredibly rare. Betting on scores to be exactly level after all those overs? The odds are massive for a reason. You’ve got more chance of finding hens’ teeth.
Player bets that are just guesswork
Moving beyond team outcomes, trying to nail down specific player actions gets hairy fast.
- Exact Player Runs/Wickets: Betting on Faf du Plessis to be Top SA Batsman? Reasonable enough. Betting on him to score exactly 73 runs? Completely nuts. He could get a ripper of a delivery first ball or smash a daddy hundred. There’s no reliable way to predict that specific number. Same goes for guessing Kagiso Rabada will take exactly 3 wickets.
- First Ball Drama: What happens on the very first ball of the innings? Dot ball? Single? Boundary? Wicket? Talk about a 50/50… or rather, a 10/10/10/10/60 guess. Fun for a tiny interest bet maybe, but utterly unpredictable.
- Man of the Match: This one feels more predictable, but it often isn’t. Sometimes the choice is obvious (guy scores 150*). Other times, three players might have solid claims. Maybe it’s the bowler who took key wickets, the batsman who anchored the chase, or the fielder who took a blinder and effected a run-out. It can be subjective. Betting on an outsider here offers juicy odds, but it’s a proper gamble.
The accumulator Hail Mary
And then there’s the classic way to chase massive odds: the accumulator, or ‘acca’. Stringing together multiple bets where each leg needs to win. Combining several of these risky bets we’ve just discussed? Like, predicting the exact score and the method of first dismissal and Player X to score a duck? The potential payout might look like a phone number, but the chances of it actually landing are microscopically small. One wrong prediction and the whole thing crashes.
So why are they so damn risky?
It boils down to probability. Or rather, the severe lack of it.
- Cricket is complex: Weather, pitch conditions, player form dips and surges, dropped catches, lucky edges, umpiring decisions… countless variables are at play.
- Specificity kills: These bets demand extreme precision in a game defined by variance.
- Rarity rules: Ties, exact scores, hat-tricks – these things are memorable because they don’t happen often.
The seductive trap of long odds
Look, I get the appeal. Turning R20 into R2000 sounds fantastic. It adds a buzz to watching the game when you’ve got a ridiculous long shot riding on it. But let’s not kid ourselves. These are low-percentage plays. Think of them as fun, throwaway bets – entertainment expenses, basically. They aren’t a strategy for consistent profit. You’re far more likely to slowly (or quickly) drain your betting pot chasing these miracle payouts.
Play smart, not desperate
So, next time you’re scrolling through the odds and see that 150/1 long shot, pause for a second. By all means, have a tiny flutter on it if it adds to your enjoyment and you can easily afford to lose the stake. But don’t mistake it for smart betting. Focus the bulk of your attention (and your betting bankroll) on more reasoned wagers where you actually feel you have some insight.
Enjoy the incredible unpredictability of cricket, but bet with your head, not just chasing unicorn payouts. Cheers.